Football Playoff preview
The NJSIAA public school playoffs will begin on Thursday with quarterfinal action.
South Jersey Group 1
Matchups: (8)-Audubon (2-5) at (1) Glassboro (9-0); (5) Salem (5-4) at (4) KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy (6-2); (6) Schalick (3-6) at (3) Pennsville (5-4); (7) Woodbury (3-6) at (2) Paulsboro (8-1).
Outlook: Glassboro, the defending state champion, is a prohibitive favorite. The Bulldogs have won 21 consecutive games. Could Paulsboro possibly slow down Glassboro? It’s possible but very unlikely.
Matchups: (8)-Audubon (2-5) at (1) Glassboro (9-0); (5) Salem (5-4) at (4) KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy (6-2); (6) Schalick (3-6) at (3) Pennsville (5-4); (7) Woodbury (3-6) at (2) Paulsboro (8-1).
Outlook: Glassboro, the defending state champion, is a prohibitive favorite. The Bulldogs have won 21 consecutive games. Could Paulsboro possibly slow down Glassboro? It’s possible but very unlikely.
South Jersey Group 2
Matchups: (8) Willingboro (4-5) at (1) Haddonfield (6-2); (5) Gloucester (4-4) at (4) Lower Cape May (7-2); (6) Overbrook (6-3) at (3) Delran (8-1); (7) Camden Eastside (3-5) at (2) West Deptford (8-1).
Outlook: Haddonfield is a solid favorite, although Delran, which suffered its only loss to unbeaten Burlington Township, could be a threat. West Deptford could also be a challenger, but the Eagles recently lost 29-14 to Haddonfield.
Matchups: (8) Willingboro (4-5) at (1) Haddonfield (6-2); (5) Gloucester (4-4) at (4) Lower Cape May (7-2); (6) Overbrook (6-3) at (3) Delran (8-1); (7) Camden Eastside (3-5) at (2) West Deptford (8-1).
Outlook: Haddonfield is a solid favorite, although Delran, which suffered its only loss to unbeaten Burlington Township, could be a threat. West Deptford could also be a challenger, but the Eagles recently lost 29-14 to Haddonfield.
South Jersey Group 3
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Matchups: (8) Timber Creek (2-7) at (1) Burlington Township (9-0); (5) Ocean City (5-4) at (4) Mainland (5-4); (6) Delsea (4-5) at (3) Pleasantville (6-3); (7) Triton at (2) Cedar Creek.
Outlook: Watch out for Mainland, the defending SJ Group 3 champion. The Mustangs played in South Jersey’s toughest division, the WJFL American. That tough competition should help the Mustangs compete in the postseason. Mainland must get by Ocean City in the first round, no easy task. This season Mainland beat Ocean City 20-7.
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Matchups: (8) Timber Creek (2-7) at (1) Burlington Township (9-0); (5) Ocean City (5-4) at (4) Mainland (5-4); (6) Delsea (4-5) at (3) Pleasantville (6-3); (7) Triton at (2) Cedar Creek.
Outlook: Watch out for Mainland, the defending SJ Group 3 champion. The Mustangs played in South Jersey’s toughest division, the WJFL American. That tough competition should help the Mustangs compete in the postseason. Mainland must get by Ocean City in the first round, no easy task. This season Mainland beat Ocean City 20-7.
South Jersey Group 4
Matchups: (8) Cumberland (6-3) at (1) Winslow Township (7-2); (5) Pennsauken (7-2) at (4) Shawne (6-3; (6) Northern Burlington (6-3) at (3) Central Regional (8-1); (7) Toms River East (5-4) at (2) Millville (4-4).
Outlook: Winslow Township is the defending state Group 4 champion and will be a prohibitive favorite. Junior quarterback Jalen Parker has thrown for 1,894 yards and 28 TDs. Millville has won three in a row, but the Thunderbolts lost an earlier 49-6 decision to Winslow Township.
Matchups: (8) Cumberland (6-3) at (1) Winslow Township (7-2); (5) Pennsauken (7-2) at (4) Shawne (6-3; (6) Northern Burlington (6-3) at (3) Central Regional (8-1); (7) Toms River East (5-4) at (2) Millville (4-4).
Outlook: Winslow Township is the defending state Group 4 champion and will be a prohibitive favorite. Junior quarterback Jalen Parker has thrown for 1,894 yards and 28 TDs. Millville has won three in a row, but the Thunderbolts lost an earlier 49-6 decision to Winslow Township.
South Jersey Group 5
Matchups: (8) Cherokee (3-6) at (1) Atlantic City (7-1); (5) Toms River North (4-5) at (4) Cherry Hill East (9-0); (6) Eastern (6-3) at (3) Kingsway (7-2); (7) Williamstown (3-6) at (2) Southern (8-1).
Outlook: Toms River North is a three-time state champion, but has fallen back this year, but can’t be discounted. Top seeded Atlantic City will be tough, but watch out for Kingsway. The Dragons’ two losses are to two top seeded teams, Camden and Washington Township, by a total of eight points.
Matchups: (8) Cherokee (3-6) at (1) Atlantic City (7-1); (5) Toms River North (4-5) at (4) Cherry Hill East (9-0); (6) Eastern (6-3) at (3) Kingsway (7-2); (7) Williamstown (3-6) at (2) Southern (8-1).
Outlook: Toms River North is a three-time state champion, but has fallen back this year, but can’t be discounted. Top seeded Atlantic City will be tough, but watch out for Kingsway. The Dragons’ two losses are to two top seeded teams, Camden and Washington Township, by a total of eight points.
A look at Central Jersey:
Central Jersey Group 1
South Jersey Teams: (1) Burlington City (8-1); (3) Riverside (7-2); (7) New Egypt (4-4).
Outlook: Burlington City, which suffered its only loss to unbeaten rival Burlington Township, 8-0, has the ability to win this Group. Senior Donte Davis has rushed for 1,355 yards and 19 touchdowns and has rushed for at least 100 yards in each of the Blue Devils’ wins.
Central Jersey Group 1
South Jersey Teams: (1) Burlington City (8-1); (3) Riverside (7-2); (7) New Egypt (4-4).
Outlook: Burlington City, which suffered its only loss to unbeaten rival Burlington Township, 8-0, has the ability to win this Group. Senior Donte Davis has rushed for 1,355 yards and 19 touchdowns and has rushed for at least 100 yards in each of the Blue Devils’ wins.
Central Jersey Group 2
South Jersey Teams:(1) Camden (6-2); (7) Bordentown (7-1).
Outlook: Camden, which lost to Pt. Pleasant Boro, 15-7, in last year’s sectional final. Will be the favorite. The Panthers have played a Group 4 like schedule. The only losses were 21-20 to Shawnee and 26-8 to South Jersey’s No. 1 team Winslow Township. It would be an upset if the Panthers didn’t emerge as champions.
South Jersey Teams:(1) Camden (6-2); (7) Bordentown (7-1).
Outlook: Camden, which lost to Pt. Pleasant Boro, 15-7, in last year’s sectional final. Will be the favorite. The Panthers have played a Group 4 like schedule. The only losses were 21-20 to Shawnee and 26-8 to South Jersey’s No. 1 team Winslow Township. It would be an upset if the Panthers didn’t emerge as champions.
Central Jersey Group 3
South Jersey Teams: (8) Cinnaminson (4-5); (3) Seneca (7-2)
Outlook: Seneca, which lost to Mainland, 42-14 in last year’s sectional final, will be a major threat. Junior Anthony Tirico has rushed for 1,080 yards and 11 touchdowns and passed for 1,260 yards and 14 scores. Top seeded Holmdel is the favorite but Seneca can beat any team in this Group.
South Jersey Teams: (8) Cinnaminson (4-5); (3) Seneca (7-2)
Outlook: Seneca, which lost to Mainland, 42-14 in last year’s sectional final, will be a major threat. Junior Anthony Tirico has rushed for 1,080 yards and 11 touchdowns and passed for 1,260 yards and 14 scores. Top seeded Holmdel is the favorite but Seneca can beat any team in this Group.
Central Jersey Group 4
No South Jersey teams
No South Jersey teams
Central Jersey Group 5
South Jersey Teams: (1) Washington Township (8-0); (4) Rancocas Valley (5-4).
Outlook: Washington Township is the defending sectional champion and a solid favorite. In what should be a finals matchup, Township will likely have to defeat Rancocas Valley in the semifinals. The Minutemen beat Rancocas Valley, 38-17 on Oct. 10, but the Red Devils should make it a tighter game if they meet in the semifinals. Jameer Bellemy has rushed for 864 yards and 11 touchdowns and holds the key to the Rancocas Valley ground game.
South Jersey Teams: (1) Washington Township (8-0); (4) Rancocas Valley (5-4).
Outlook: Washington Township is the defending sectional champion and a solid favorite. In what should be a finals matchup, Township will likely have to defeat Rancocas Valley in the semifinals. The Minutemen beat Rancocas Valley, 38-17 on Oct. 10, but the Red Devils should make it a tighter game if they meet in the semifinals. Jameer Bellemy has rushed for 864 yards and 11 touchdowns and holds the key to the Rancocas Valley ground game.
Photo: No. 4 Jameer Bellamy of Rancocas Valley taking the handoff
Author: Marc Narducci
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